In an amorphous carbon film of a sliding member, provided that a number of nitrogen atoms each singly bonded to three carbon atoms is A, and a number of nitrogen atoms each singly and doubly bonded to two carbon atoms, respectively, is B, a value A/B of the amorphous carbon film obtained through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis is 10 to 18. The method includes irradiating the surface of the substrate with nitrogen ion beams and irradiating a carbon target with electron beams, thereby forming an amorphous carbon film on the surface of the substrate while vapor-depositing a part of the carbon target onto the surface of the substrate. The output of the electron beams that irradiate the carbon target is 30 to 50 W.